Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan: A Shift Toward Sustainable Growth

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released its 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, setting out a long-term vision for managing both permanent and temporary immigration. This plan represents a decisive move toward sustainable immigration growth, ensuring Canada continues to attract skilled newcomers while balancing housing, labour, and infrastructure pressures.

According to the Government of Canada’s Budget 2025, the new plan is designed to stabilize immigration levels, reduce the temporary resident population, and strengthen pathways for those already contributing to Canadian communities.

Key Objectives

The 2026–2028 framework focuses on five strategic goals:

• Sustain economic growth by addressing labour shortages in key sectors such as health care, construction, and technology.

• Manage population sustainability through a measured reduction in temporary residents.

• Reinforce family reunification and humanitarian commitments to maintain Canada’s compassionate foundation.

• Support Francophone communities outside Quebec to enhance bilingual vitality.

• Facilitate transitions for temporary residents and protected persons already established in Canada.

  
  

Temporary Resident Targets (New Arrivals)

IRCC aims to reduce the temporary resident share to below 5% of Canada’s total population by 2027, focusing on new arrivals rather than extensions or renewals. These targets are detailed in Budget 2025 and IRCC’s official announcement.

Year	Total Temporary Residents (New Arrivals)	Workers	International Students
2026	385,000 (range 375K–395K)	230,000	155,000
2027	370,000 (range 360K–380K)	220,000	150,000
2028	370,000 (range 360K–380K)	220,000	150,000

Breakdown of Worker Programs:

• International Mobility Program (IMP): ~170,000 annually

• Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP): 60,000 in 2026 → 50,000 in 2027–2028

This recalibration ensures that temporary pathways continue to address genuine labour needs while avoiding overstretching Canada’s housing and public services.

Permanent Resident Targets (Admissions)

IRCC will stabilize permanent resident admissions at 380,000 per year from 2026 through 2028, maintaining a strong emphasis on skilled immigration and regional development.Full details are available on the IRCC Levels Plan page.

1. Economic Immigration (~64% of Total PRs)

• Express Entry (FSWP, FSTP, CEC): 109,000 (2026) → 111,000 (2027–2028)

• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 91,500 (2026) → 92,500 (2027–2028)

• Atlantic Immigration Program: 4,000 annually

• Economic Pilots (Caregivers, Agri-Food, Francophone, etc.): 8,175 (2026) → 8,775 (2027–2028)

• Federal Business Programs (Start-Up Visa & Self-Employed): 500 annually

  
  

2. Family Reunification (~21–22%)

• Spouses, Partners & Children: 69,000 (2026) → 66,000 (2027–2028)

• Parents & Grandparents (PGP): 15,000 annually

3. Refugees & Protected Persons (~13%)

• Protected Persons & Dependants Abroad: 20,000 annually

• Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR): 13,250

• Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSR): 16,000

• Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR): ~50

4. Humanitarian & Compassionate (H&C) and Other Categories

• H&C Admissions: ~1,000 per year

• Other Humanitarian Streams (including Ukraine, Sudan, Hong Kong): 4,000–5,800 per year

Francophone Immigration Targets

Canada continues to advance its Francophone Immigration Strategy to strengthen French-speaking minority communities outside Quebec.

Year	Target Francophone Share
2026	9%
2027	9.5%
2028	10.5% (toward 12% by 2029)

This reflects IRCC’s long-term goal of ensuring that linguistic duality remains a pillar of Canada’s national identity.

Special Transition Measures

IRCC is implementing two targeted initiatives to support those already contributing to the Canadian economy and society:

• 115,000 Protected Persons Transition (2026–2027): Granting permanent residency to individuals with recognized protected status in Canada.

• 33,000 Temporary Workers Transition (2026–2027): Offering PR pathways to established workers with strong community and employment ties.

Both initiatives are designed to ease processing pressures and accelerate integration for those already residing in Canada.

What This Means for Future Applicants

The direction of this plan is clear: quality, balance, and sustainability.

Skilled workers: Express Entry and PNP candidates with Canadian experience or in-demand occupations will continue to have strong opportunities. Temporary residents: Work and study permit approvals will become more selective to align with demographic and infrastructure capacity. Francophone applicants: Continued expansion of regional and bilingual programs. Families and humanitarian applicants: Stable levels preserve Canada’s compassionate framework.

A Strategic Reset

Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan is more than a numbers exercise — it’s a strategic recalibration. The focus is shifting toward long-term integration, economic contribution, and regional balance, ensuring that immigration continues to drive prosperity without compromising sustainability.

For applicants, employers, and communities alike, this marks the beginning of a more measured, data-driven era in Canadian immigration policy.